Which Fire Pits Are Right for Your Home

When you type in "fire pits" into Google, you are returned thousands of results. From WalMart, to Home Depot, to Amazon, to Lowes and so on. But how do you know which fire pit is right for your outdoor living room? The majority of the fire pits you will see on search engines are e-direct purchases that are portable, cast from stainless steel or iron and are inexpensive.



Now I dont mean to be a fire pit snob, but when I see these fire pits for sale in mass quantities, a few things come to mind. A) They are and look cheap, and I dont mean "inexpensive cheap," I mean cheap as in they arent built to last. B) The majority of these portable fire pits are wood burning, so you will be emitting smoke and ash into the environment which is bad. C) Because of the fact these pits burn wood, they are a mess to clean up, embers and ash fly all over the place and you and your guests are inhaling noxious fumes. D) Because these are run-of-the-mill mass produced fire pits, there is nothing unique and special about them that make them a PART of YOUR home and natural landscape design.

So then, what is the purpose of this blog you wonder? Well, I am merely going to present to you a few options that will help make your decision on which fire pit or burning system to install in your backyard? The following are some things to consider:

1) How much space do you have to work with? If you have a large spacious backyard, then why not landscape to create "sections" or mini functioning areas which are designated specific purposes? A kitchen and food prep area next to a grill makes perfect sense along with a bar to sit and rest your drink on while food is being prepared.



2) Create an area for dining and relaxing. Nothing brings people together like sitting around a custom fire pit with room for food, drink and afterwards, kick your feet up and engage in conversation. Fire pits are a natural gathering spot and add ambiance to your evening entertainment.

3) Natural Gas and propane burning systems, versus wood burning, are better for the environment, easier to start and stop and controlling the flame has never been easier. With wood burning pits, you must constantly must monitor the flame, during lighting, while burning and when attempting to extinguish the flame. In fact, embers from wood burning fire pits can burn for hours after you think that the main fire has been put out. The advantage to gas and propane fire pits are that you can turn them on and off with the flip of a switch or turn of a key valve and you have confidence that the fire is either on or off. Finally, you can control the height and output of the flame to achieve the exact amount of heat and flame that you are going for.



4) Warming Trends Crossfire Burner System out performs all other conventional fire ring systems on the market. By mixing a precise air to gas ratio, the Crossfire Burner achieves TWICE the height of the flame while burning only HALF the fuel. This saves you money in the long term. Also, utilizing gas or propane means you do not have to store wood, keep it dry and avoid spiders and snakes when you go to grab wood to toss in your fire pit.



5) If you feel that your backyard or patio is not large enough to to install a custom fire pit, or that your budget doesnt meet the requirements to do so, another idea is to install tiki torches to add accent lighting to your outdoor entertainment space. Tiki torches are a fantastic alternative to fire pits as you can place them in several locations to show off garden plants, trees and shrubs with the natural ambient light that tiki torches put off.

If you are in the works to enhance your backyard or patio, then please contact us adn well be happy to help you with all of your home improvement needs.

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Cheap Landscaping Ideas For Front and Backyard Designs

There are many Cheap Landscaping Ideas that will still create wonderful front and Backyard Designs. Now when I see "Cheap", thats not what I really mean. I should have said inexpensive. There isnt any part of the landscape where you cant reduce the costs creatively.

Patios and Walkways - Some Cheap Landscaping Ideas

If you have looked at the more expensive hardscape materials such as brick, bluestone and other natural stone, you are considering the more expensive paving stones. Yes, they can be very beautiful, but thats not to say you cant still have a beautiful patio or walkway design. Concrete pavers are less expensive than the above choices. Even less costly than pavers is concrete. Consider adding color to the concrete mix for some additional interest.
Retaining Walls

Landscape retaining walls can get very expensive. Costs are estimated by the square foot of one side, but six inches is added on in height for the part of the wall that is built beneath the ground. As an example, if you have a wall that is twenty feet long and two feet high, the square footage would be fifty feet. If you are considering two materials and there is a twenty dollar price difference, thats one thousand dollars.

If you are looking to install an inexpensive wall, I would suggest some of the decorative concrete block walls. The plainer they are, the Cheaper they will be. You might want to go one step up and choose one of the "mosaic" styles for a bit of a more natural look.

Plantings

Always go for good quality. Where you can save money is in the size of the plants. Some plants, such as perennials, are so fast growing that it hardly matters. Even those plants that grow more slowly will eventually be their mature size. A shrub that will grow to a maximum of four feet will get there no mater what size it starts out at. Of course, we dont want to be ridiculous here! Start with a size that is smaller than perhaps you would really like but still look attractive.

Outdoor Fencing

Do you have woods on your property? Consider using black chain link fencing in or near the woods as it will just blend into your surroundings. You can also use less expensive fencing anywhere and plant heavily in front of it to camouflage it.

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landscaping ideas for a small backyard

landscaping ideas for a small backyard

Anyone who possesses a home really wants to make it since attractive as you can. One of the first issues that people see whenever they come to pay a visit to is the lawn and any landscape designs work that is done to this. Because most patio offer a certain quantity of personal privacy, homeowners usually choose to go further when it comes to gardening this area with the property. Backyard landscaping ideas are an easy way to improve your house, but before youre taking on this kind of project, it is important that you consider things by means of and perform proper organizing.

One of the first items you should consider is actually you are approximately taking on a substantial landscaping task by yourself. You might like to consult a specialist landscaper. This will give you a perception of the costs concerned, and it will additionally give you a perception of how much labour a professional considers will be essential. Dont be scared to ask about the quantity of labor included. It may prove that you had been underestimating simply how much work assembling your shed actually entails.

Whether you determine to do the perform yourself, or even hire a specialist, there are some suggestions that can help one to design an attractive landscape using the least level of effort as well as expense. Some tips tend to be listed here.

? When youre choosing vegetation for your backyard, ensure that you are purchasing plants which can be hardy within your temperature area. Most trustworthy dealers inside plants along with shrubberies will be very happy to assist you in case you ask them for advice in choosing plants that is to be able to handle the weather in your area.

? Retain things exciting in your yard with the help of a variety of plant life that have results in of different kinds and finishes. When you are getting shrubs, think about using one preferred type during the entire yard use a pattern to your overall landscape design.

? A high level perennial place lover, remember that although they tend to be beautiful if theyre blooming, numerous perennials do not blossom for very long. You might need to supplement using annual bouquets as breaks appear in your own landscape design throughout the period.

? Although including exotic vegetation to your backyard garden might appear to be an interesting thought, they can be a substantial maintenance venture all of their very own if you do not select carefully. Think about staying with simpler plants since you are starting out.

They are a few basic guidelines that will help you to begin with designing your own backyard landscape. If you want to enter into more complicated assignments such as creating walls, as well as installing pathways, you can expect your own costs to raise significantly. Enough time required to comprehensive the task will also turn into much more of very important. Consider picking out small backyard landscape tricks to start with, then build on individuals as they are accomplished. You will have your satisfaction associated with seeing improvement being manufactured, and you will be a lot less likely to chew off over you can gnaw at anyone time.

simple landscaping ideas for a small backyard

backyard landscaping ideas for a small yard

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Hot Plants for Spring 2011

With Witchhazels in bloom and daffodil buds emerging, my spring fever is nearing its peak.  I wanted to dedicate a few blogs to plants that I think will be hot this spring.  I’ve spent time going through stacks of 2011 catalogues, going to nursery trade shows, and talking to designers and breeders, so I have narrowed down my finalists.  Today’s pick for hot plants 2011:

The Genius Geum Genus

Geum Totally Tangerine bred by Tim Crowther UK.  Image from Bluestone Perennials.

Try and say that three times quickly.  It’s clear that this once overlooked genus is hotter than ever this spring.  It’s easy to see why these plants have been ignored.  They tend to take a year or two to get established, can sometimes look scraggly, and don’t really stand out in a pot.  But what makes Geums uninspiring the first year turn into assets over the long haul.  By the second year, Geums really make a show and prove themselves to be long blooming additions to any border.  Plus, they come in almost every color imaginable.
What will make Geums particularly hot this year are a slate of wonderful new cultivars.  Consider, for example, Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ (Tim’s Tangerine PPAF).  This plant won ‘Plant of the Year’ at the Chelsea Flower Show, among a particularly crowded field of good plants.  This plant explodes with coral-colored Anemone-like blooms in early summer and continues blooming through mid summer.  This cultivar is particularly robust and taller than the species, transforming a supporting plant into a leading role in your garden. 

Also look out for a series of new cultivars developed by Walter’s Gardens in Michigan.  Geum ‘Mai Thai’ and Geum ‘Alabama Slammer’ are a couple of their promising introductions.  You can purchase them online from Bluestone Perennials.

Geum triflorum, image from Prairie Moon Nursery

Don’t care about overly bred cultivars and are looking for something a bit more native?  Try Geum triflorum, a delightful and whimsical Midwest native.  Prairie Smoke is a low growing forb that sports gorgeous hot pink flowers in spring that explode into smoky, pinky, feathery seedheads in midsummer. What a knockout.   One of the most photogenic plants I’ve ever seen, proving once again, that natives can compete with even the most colorful exotic.  This plant is relatively easy to grow and combines nicely with other low prairie grasses like Bouteloua gracilis or Schizachyrium scoparium.  Prairie Moon Nursery sells seeds of this wonderful plant.

Geum triflorum in seed.  Image from Prairie Moon Nursery.

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